The National Fundraising Campaign for the Syrians ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ended at 3 a.m. yesterday, collecting more than SR 271.47 million in cash donations.
Saudi nationals as well as expatriates donated generously to the fund during the five-day telethon in an expression of solidarity with Syrians facing oppression under Bashar Assad’s regime.
Campaign officials said donations in kind would be received at special center until tomorrow. People can continue to deposit their cash donations in an NCB account (SA231 00 000 201 88 888 000 100) at any time.
Interior Minister Prince Ahmed commended the tremendous public response to the king’s call to support the Syrians. He said measures have been taken to distribute Saudi relief supplies among the Syrians.
Donations given by Saudi Telecom Company customers through text messages reached SR 14 million, while Mobily cellphone users donated SR 6.7 million in addition to the telecoms provider’s corporate donation of SR 1 million.
Lt. Gen. Saad Al-Tuwaijri, director general of the Civil Defense, commended King Abdullah for initiating the campaign, saying it was in line with the Kingdom’s efforts to support people in trouble.
King Abdullah launched the campaign on Monday by donating SR 20 million to the fund while Crown Prince Salman gave SR 10 million.
Al-Tuwaijri said: “King Abdullah and Prince Salman set a good example to Saudis and expatriates by extending their generous donations.”
Read more in the Kingdom section.